Critics: Obama passed by Gulf Coast in SOTU

When President Barack Obama visited the Gulf Coast last spring at the height of the BP oil disaster, he promised the region and its problems - tar-stained beaches, oil-soaked wildlife, sidelined fishermen and idle tourism workers - would stay high on his agenda, even if others lost interest.

“You’re not alone. You will not be abandoned. You will not be left behind,” the president declared in Grande Isle, La. on May 28. “The cameras at some point may leave; the media may get tired of the story; but we will not. We are on your side and we will see this through. We’re going to keep at this every day until the leak has stopped, until this coastline is clean, and your communities are made whole again. That’s my promise to you.”

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But when Obama delivered the State of the Union address Tuesday night, the environmental and economic nightmare that crippled the Gulf Coast and transfixed the nation last year - dragging down his approval ratings in the process - wasn’t included.

“It was disappointing. I thought the state of the Gulf would get a mention,” said Aaron Viles of the New Orleans-based Gulf Restoration Network. “I understand it was a messy, ugly situation, certainly not something you’d mention to bring forward a bright shining vision of the future, but the oil is still down there, communities are still struggling. We need to see that ongoing national commitment to this recovery.”

In advance of Obama’s speech, lawmakers of both parties representing the Gulf states had urged the president to talk about the need for new offshore oil drilling, which has been effectively halted since the deadly Deepwater Horizon rig exploded last April, unleashing an undersea gusher that spurted unchecked for months. In October, the Obama administration officially lifted a moratorium on new drilling, but no new permits have been issued, sidelining thousands of oil workers.

“The President missed a tremendous opportunity to address the on-going situation in the Gulf of Mexico. I would have preferred empty words to absolute neglect,” Landry said in a statement. “Of 6,802 words in the President’s speech, not one addressed the Administration’s de facto moratorium, the resulting job losses, or the degradation of Coastal Louisiana’s economy….As the Congressman for Coastal Louisiana, I am personally offended that the President refused to recognize the 11 lives lost in the Deepwater Horizon tragedy.”

A White House official who asked not to be named said Wednesday that the Gulf Coast recovery “continues to be a priority for the administration. We are also engaged in an aggressive reform of the oversight and safety standards for offshore oil and gas development, to ensure that this important industry is able to move forward safely and responsibly.”

President Teddy Roosevelt's motto was "Speak softly and carry a big stick." Name the President whose motto is "***aboo for Jihad and not Jesus!" (For a related web article that some have banned, Google "Obama Fulfilling the Bible.")